Ticks in Puppies and Dogs

Ticks are blood sucking parasites that are common in many parts of the Irish countryside. They are classed as anthropods. Your pet may come in contact with ticks while running through long grasses and wooded areas. Ticks are revolting. They attach themselves onto your pet with their mouthpiece and stay attached until they have their fill of your pets blood. The tick may stay attached for several hours to days. You usually will find ticks around your pets ears, inside of their legs, where there is little hair and their toes.

 Your pet can get ticks and be fine but there is also the threat of disease with ticks. The quicker you remove the ticks from your dog the better as it reduces the risk of disease transmission. Ticks start off tiny but if they get to suck of your pet uninterrupted they swell pea size and bigger with a hard shell. They then fall off and lay their larvae. In Ireland lyme disease is carried by the Irish ticks in USA lyme disease and Rockey mountains disease are most common tick diseases.

If you are concerned that your pet has ticks you should take a close look at your dogs skin. Rub your hand around your dog to feel for any lumps or raised areas. Pay special attention between their toes, ears hairless areas and armpits.You might find red lumps. Ticks will start off as small as pencil tip and increase in size over time. Lots of dogs display no sign of been bitten by one or more ticks. Some dogs will find the ticks very irritating which leads to them licking and scratching them. Others are very allergic to them. An over infestation of ticks can cause anaemia in dogs. Ticks can move from dogs to people.

Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks.Lyme disease can be serious. It can lead to kidney failure and death. Puppies are more prone to lymne disease than adult dogs. Symptom's in dogs are difficult to detect and may not appear until months after infection. A dog with lyme disease may not show any symptom's if they do they will suffer fatigue, not wanting to move and spontaneous leg lameness for 3 to 4 days with failure to eat and depression. This lameness may reoccur 3 days to a week later. The dog may be stiff with an arched back. The dog may have swollen painful joints. Lyme disease can be often misdiagnosed. Sometimes mistaken for arthritis. The kidneys can be severely damaged.

The quicker you remove the tick from your dog the better. If you have access to a vet and the money get them to do the horrid job. Ensure that you wear gloves when dealing with ticks. Infection can be transferred to humans from the ticks.
When searching for ticks run your hands over the dog paying special attention around the ears, between the toes, hairless areas and under their armpits. Look and feel for any raised areas lumps and bumps. Remember the size of the tick will be an indicator of how long it has been on your pet. From the size of a pencil tip to the size of a bean.

• Make sure the objects you are using to remove the ticks are sterile
• Do not use your fingers to remove the ticks
• Use a tweezers or specially made devices for removing ticks 
• Ensure that you get the tweezers as close to the head of the tick as possible
• You do not want to leave the head of the tick behind as it can cause an abscess
• Apply steady gently pressure pull the tick straight out do not twist 
• Apply antiseptic ointment
• Do not squeeze the body of the tick as it can release disease 
• Dispose of the tick straight away best to burn it, remember its a disease carrier
• You can apply topical ointments that kill off the ticks 
• You can also apply special tick killing shampoo

Prevention is better than cure. Its best to stay out of lyme disease prone areas and tick infested areas if possible. Remember humans can get ticks also. If you are going to the countryside its best to apply a topical ointment that prevents ticks and fleas to your dog. I use frontline. You should apply once a month topicals for peace of mind. There are tick collars, sprays, powders and dips. When you come in from your walks check your pet for ticks. Its best to catch them before they attach.

Heatstroke in Puppies and Dogs

Heatstroke can kill your puppy within 15 minutes. Puppies are more prone to heatstroke than humans. Unlike humans dogs do not have sweet glands all over their body. Dogs sweat through their paws and they have their fur all year round. They regulate their body temprature mostly through panting. Panting brings in cool outside air into their body and releases the excess heat from their body. But when outside air is a higher temprature  than their body temprature heatstroke strikes.
A dogs normal body temprature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees fahrenheit. At 105 degrees fahrenheit your dog will start to show the signs of heatstroke and suffers the effects of it. At 106 degrees and above it gets very serious and irreversible damage begins.

The signs of heatstroke

• Rapid Heavy Panting 
• Increased Drooling
• Hyperventilation\Gasping for Air
• Deep red hemorrhages on gums and skin
• Rapid Pulse
• Vomiting
• Diarhea
• Dizzy
• Dry Gums
• Bleeding
• Staring Glassy Eyes
• Warm
• Weakness
• Fever
• Pale Gums
• Increased Heartbeat
• Weak
• Collapse
• Seizures
• Coma

Treatment of Heat Stroke

• Get puppy to a cool room with fan/air conditioning.
• Apply cool water but not ice cold water, if you cool the pup down too quickly you could cause bloating and heart attack. You should use a hose. Apply water first to inner thighs and stomach where there are larger blood vessels. Wet the foot pads as well.
• Don't submerge the puppy in a bath of water or pool as this will cool the pup down too quickly causing heart attack or bloat. 
• Don't cover the dog with a wet towel. The water needs to evaporate. Don't enclose the pup there needs to be free flowing air.
• Get them to stand up and  walk around as this will increase the blood circulation and cool the puppy down quicker.
• Give them cool water to drink.
• If the puppy's temperature is above 107 degree's give them a cold water enema. 
• When you get their  temperature down to 104 bring them to the vet.

Prevention of Heat Stroke in Puppies and Dogs

• Avoid vigorous exercise with your pet on warm days best to play in the shade
• Easy access to fresh cool water. 
• Never leave you puppy/dog alone on a warm day in a car even if you have the windows down. A car can heat up very quickly even if its not very warm outside. Dog's been left alone in cars is one of the most common causes of heatstroke.
• Short nosed dogs such as pugs and bulldogs are more at risk to get heatstroke. Puppies under 6 months. Obese dogs. Dog's with existing medical conditions such as heart and airway problems. Older dogs.
• They should have access to a shady spot if outside.

Dogs Afraid of Storms thunder and Lightning

Puppy will more than likely have a fear of thunder and lightning. Sometimes this fear can turn into a phobia. Dogs feel trapped during thunder storms. Your pet can do alot of damage to themselves and your home when they are in fear. Dogs have broken teeth, obtained fractures, caused cuts and bruises to themselves. Pets get knocked down and killed on the road from frantic running. There are also cases of pups going missing due to running off in fear. A pet that normally never strays can run off in fear and get lost. Here are some signs of storm phobia digging, jumping through windows, going through walls, running away, hiding, pacing, chewing, urinating, defecating, howling, dilated pupils, drooling, wanting owner, not eating, and shaking. Keep your pet indoors during the storm. This reduces the risk of getting lost or  knocked down etc. You should keep calm during the storm.

The pup will be able to read your anxiety. The fear of the thunder storm gets worse with each exposure if you do not try and calm the situation. A pet that is afraid of thunder may become afraid of rain, wind and dark clouds as they precede the thunder. Dogs may become anxious with the reducing barometric pressure. The smells that come with a storm also. Certain dogs are more prone to the phobia of storms such as collies, basset hounds, golden retrievers german shepard's. These are working, sporting dogs that spend alot of time out in open fields so this could compound their fear. 

• Create a safe haven. Some dogs feel safe in the bathroom during the storm. Under the bed. In their create. In the wardrobe.
• More exercise on the day the storm is coming. Dogs produce serotonin during exercise which makes them feel better.
• Reduce the noise level. Play the radio, some music or turn on the tv. Earplug for dogs. 

• Be calm. Dogs can sense your fear and it will add on to theirs.
• Desensitisation. Play a tape of the thunderstorm to your dog at low volume. The dog will not be afraid usually at the low volume but he will be aware of it, do some obedience training with them. Reward the pet. Increase the volume at the next session. Do some obedience training again and reward. At the next session increase the volume do obedience training and reward. If the dog shows fear reduce the volume. Sessions should be around 20 minutes. Continue until the tape can be played loud. Play the tape when you are not around also. When the thunderstorm occurs use the same activities that you did with the tape. 
• Counter the effects of electromagnetism. Done by rubbing your dogs fur to rid of static.
• If it is really strong phobia and nothing is working contact a dog behaviourist.
• You can purchase herbal remedies.
• A storm blanket for your dog. There is one called the Storm Defender. The special lining in the cape brings relief.

Puppys and Dogs have Jealous Emotions

Dogs are more similar to humans than once thought. They suffer from the pangs of jealousy just like us. They do not like to share the affections of their owners. When they see their owners giving attention to another dog it brings out strong emotion in them. It was once believed that dogs were only capable of having primary emotions such as anger and anxiety now research has shown that they have secondary emotions such as  guilt, jealousy, embarrassment and shame. Dogs show a strong dislike to unequal treatment. They do not like to see another dog getting preferential treatment over them. Dogs understand fairness. Dogs have the hormone oxytocin like us humans which has shown to bring out love and jealousy in humans.

Dr Range from the University of Vienna headed a series of experiments with dogs who knew how to give their paw. The dogs gave their paw weather they got a treat or not. All changed when one dog was given a treat for giving the paw and the other not. The dog who did not get the treat would not give the paw eventually and would not look at the researcher. You should treat all your dogs with equal care and attention. Even if you get a cute fluffy new pup make sure you give as much attention to your old dog. Experiments have shown that dogs are more sensitive to fairness rather than equity.

("The surest route to breeding jealousy is to compare. Since jealousy comes from feeling less than another, comparisons only fan the fires." Dorothy Corkville Briggs)

Puppy Yawn's

Dogs are in the group of a small number of animals that yawn. A study done by Porto University discovered that dogs can catch yawns from their owners. Dogs that have a strong bond with their owners catch more yawns from their owners. This research gives us proof that dogs empathise with their owners and can feel for them. The research showed that when the dogs heard their owners yawn they were far more likely to yawn than in any other circumstance. Half of all dogs yawned when played a tape of humans yawning. Dogs are five times more likely to yawn if the yawn comes from their owner.

Puppy Hiccups

Puppy hiccups are usually harmless. Some pups even hiccup when they are in the womb. Many puppies under 6 months hiccup a few times during the day. The hiccuping bouts usually last 2 to 3 minutes. The hiccups are usually brought on when the puppy eats or drinks too quickly. Medications, stress and excitement can also bring them on. You should bring your pup to the vet if the puppy vomits/regurgitates his/her food when hiccuping. Also contact your vet if the hiccups last longer than 30 minutes or if it happens more than a few times a day. 

You can massage your puppy while he/she hiccups to relax them.

You can also change the way you feed the puppy. Reduce the speed with which he/she eats. There is a slow feed bowl that is available in pet shops. Its great for slowing the puppy's speed eating down.

Dangerous Foods For Puppies and Dogs

Some foods that humans enjoy can cause serious illness even death to your beloved pet.

• CHOCOLATE and Coca should never be given to puppies or dogs. Chocolate contains theobromide which is deadly on the kidneys, hearts, lungs and nervous system. You should take your puppy to the vet if he/she has eaten some. Avoid all chocolate products. If your puppy has theobromide poisoning from the chocolate signs are  tremors, diarrhoea, seizures, coma, abnormal heart rate, vomiting.

• GRAPES are toxic to your dog also. Call your vet if your dog eats them. Grapes will cause vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, belly pain, low urine production, loss of appetite.
• CAFFEINE will cause heart lung kidney and central nervous system problems for your pet.
• RAISINS  similar to grapes very toxic. Call your vet. Vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, Belly pain low urine, loss of appetite.
• ONIONS lead to kidney damage. Symptoms can show days after ingestion. Signs diarrhoea, discoloured urine, vomiting, loss of appetite.
• GARLIC lead to kidney damage. Symptoms can show days after ingestion. Signs diarrhoea, discoloured urine, vomiting, loss of appetite.
• MACADAMIA NUTS will cause your pet to swell, vomiting, depression, weakness, these symptoms will show a few hours after ingestion.
• AVOCADO  vomiting and diarrhoea.
• FRUIT PITS fruit pits contain cyanide. Cyanide poisoning can kill. Signs coma, vomiting, heavy breathing, rash.
• POTATOES make puppies vomit, puppies can get very dehydrated from vomiting.
• CHEWING GUM gum that contains xylitol which is an artificial sweetener will cause liver failure. Pup will suffer seizures.
• ALCOHOL will cause failure of the respiration and nervous system of your pet
• HOPS cause heavy breathing, increased heat beat, high temperature seizures and death
• MUSHROOMS can lead to  toxic shock and death, multiple organ failure.
• YEAST DOUGH can rupture the pups stomach 
• TOBACCO damages the digestive and nervous system, could lead to death.
• COOKED BONES not easy to digest, can cause obstruction in the dogs digestive system.